The Drag Community has been in the local Southern Indiana news for about a month now due to an event called “Drag Queen Story Hour.” It’s exactly what it sounds like: drag queens visit local libraries and read to the kids while in full drag attire. Naturally, because we are where we are, this has gotten many individuals in a tiff, because THINK OF THE CHILDREN! How dare our children be exposed to men dressed as women who want to expand their imaginations and read to them! Regardless, the event is being discussed at a Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library board meeting later today. I plan on attending and showing my support for this great event, however, I won’t be surprised if the opposition wins and ruin an event that they weren’t going to attend anyway.

Because of this current local discussion, I felt it was more important than ever to express my support and admiration for the local Evansville, IN Drag Community.

First off, I want to dispel any negative rumors that surround going to LGBT bars. I’ve been attending drag shows semi-regularly for almost two years and have never been made to feel unwelcome or out of place. I’ve never been sexually harassed or had unwanted advances. It’s almost as if all those stories of straight guys getting preyed upon in bathrooms by THE GAYS are complete garbage fabrications used to create gay panic.

To be honest, I feel more comfortable attending drag shows at LGBT bars than attending pretty much any other events at straight venues. I’ve never been made fun of at an LGBT bar, which is something that I can’t say for straight venues.

Drag has always been a mainstay of artistic expression, but the scene has definitely boomed in recent years due to the success of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Suddenly, drag was mainstream and everyone wanted to see their favorite Drag Race contestants perform live. There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to do this, much like there is nothing wrong with wanting to see your favorite sports team play. But while those contestants might tour your area (at best) a few times a year, local drag can be supported almost weekly. And a lot of performers are just as talented — if not more so — as the performers you see weekly on the show. And the local talent need your support more than someone who has been showcased on a national platform.

Once you make it on to RDR, you’ve already established yourself in the community and are probably making decent money from bookings. Local queens are still trying to establish themselves and need the support of people like you to make their dreams come true. I recently saw a local queen post on Facebook on how she had a booking a decent ways away but wasn’t going to have the gas money to make the gig. She had to turn to Facebook for help. Thankfully, someone was generous and she got to the show and killed it. This is a queen that has everything it takes to be a star. However, it’s tough to see someone who is gifted struggle financially to just make it to a show.

I’ve met so many wonderful people in our drag community. I could namedrop a few, but I shouldn’t single anyone out. I definitely shouldn’t mention how talented Krystal Dicanter, Teeter Totter, Brock Harder, Rose Tyler, Audrey Day, Virgil Lee Dennison, Sabrina Haze, and Patience Eau Claire are. And those are only a few of the talents you can see on a regular basis at Someplace Else in Evansville, IN.

Finally, I want to just briefly touch on a misconception about drag. An incredibly misguided notion is that drag is just cross-dressing and that’s the end of it. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I’ve done a “real” drag performance exactly one time and it is one of the hardest things I’ve ever attempted. And this was with help! It’s not just putting on a dress and dancing around, drag is:

• Learning choreography
• Learning a song
• Making a costume
• Preparing wigs
• Making padding
• Experimenting with make-up
• Driving hours to gigs for little to no money
• Dealing with assholes who hate you for expressing your truest self

In closing, if you don’t want to take your kids to a Drag Queen Reading Hour, that’s your choice. But don’t try to take that choice away from someone else or demonize drag performances. And the next time you’re making plans for your weekend, remember that drag shows are usually happening and would love your support. And if you do go to the show, bring them dollar bills and TIP! Your tips are all most performers are getting paid that night, so it goes a long way. Don’t be cheap!

You can typically find a full list of upcoming drag events in Evansville, IN on the Someplace Else Facebook page.